The use of oriental herbal medicines in acute kidney injury: an integrative review

ABSTRACT Kidney dysfunction consists in a global healthcare problem with high prevalence and hospitalization costs. Chinese phytotherapy is part of ancient tradition used to treat and prevent renal injury. As a result of WHO incentives for integrative and complementary practices, the number of experimental researches has increased substantially. The aim of this review is to make a survey of studies that related traditional Chinese medicine, phytotherapy and kidney injuries; and identify methodology, plants, doses and their efficacy. Articles were selected using Pubmed and Lilacs database with the following terms: traditional Chinese medicine, kidney and in animal models for a period of 10 years. In 11 of the 12 studies selected, Chinese herbal medicine could prevent or improve kidney disease. 6 researches used combined herbs formulas and in the other 6 ones allopathic medicine were the control group; nephrectomy and nephrotoxicity were the most frequently used lesion models and the medicines administration was through oral gavage method. Phytotherapy can be used as a complementary therapy in kidney injuries treatments, shows low cost and can be associated with allopathic therapies. However it is necessary to know the risks, interactions, toxicity, mechanisms of action and adverse effects of medicinal plants.